Earwax buildup, known as impacted earwax, occurs when earwax production exceeds the body's ability to remove it. This can be caused by conditions like swimmer's ear or ear canal injuries. Symptoms include diminished hearing, discomfort, earache, and dizziness. Diagnosis involves a health history, physical exam, and using an otoscope to look in the ear. Impacted earwax is usually treated by softening and loosening the wax with drops before removing it through irrigation or instrumentation with tools like a cerumen hook and scoop.

1. IMPACTED EARWAX
MS SAHELI C
LECTURER
IACN

2. INTRODUCTION
• Ear Wax (Cerumen) is a natural protective oily
substance which is produced in the outer third of
the ear canal.
• Its function is to remove small foreign particles,
such as dust, from the canal.
• This is achieved by the ciliary hairs.

4. DEFINITION
Excess collection of thick ear wax is known as
impacted wax.

6. ETIOLOGY
Earwax build up happens when there is a formation of earwax
faster than the body can remove it. This can happen with
many health conditions, such as:
 Bony blockage (osteoma or exostoses)
 Infectious disease, such as swimmer’s ear (external otitis)
 Skin disease (such as eczema)
 Autoimmune disease (such as lupus)
 Narrowed ear canal (from birth, chronic inflammation)
 Injury.

7. SYMPTOMS
Diminished hearing : often sudden onset after “cleaning” the
ears
Discomfort : complain of pain unless the wax is pressing on
the drum
 Tinnitus occasionally
 Hearing loss
 Earache
 Sense of ear fullness
 Itching in the ear
 Dizziness
 Reflex Cough : This occurs due to stimulation of auricular
branch of vagus

8. DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION
Health history
 Physical exam.
 Otoscope.

9. MANAGEMENT
Cerumenolysis.
 Ear irrigation by using Syringes.
 Instrumental manupulation : Removal of wax
with hook and scoop.

12. CERUMEN HOOK AND SCOOP